Campbell Soup Company officially marked the 50th Anniversary of its Paris, Texas plant with a celebration recognizing employees’ contributions to the company’s success over the last five decades.
The plant, located 100 miles northeast of Dallas, is one of three Campbell production facilities in the United States, employing more than 900 people from Paris and surrounding communities.
After considering more than 25 potential site locations across the country, the Paris plant opened in 1964, quickly becoming the region’s largest employer. Campbell initially made its iconic soup, bean and pasta products in Paris. The plant expanded production over the years and now makes Campbell’s condensed soups, Prego Italian sauces, Pace Mexican sauces, V8 beverages and a selection of refrigerated soups for retail and foodservice sales.
“I’m very proud of our Paris team as they celebrate this milestone anniversary,” said David Biegger, Campbell’s Sr. Vice President, Global Supply Chain. “For 50 years they have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to making great quality and great tasting food.”
Since its early days, the plant has more than doubled in size, from nearly 700 acres to 1,500. During the past five years, expansion has included the installation of a beverage line (2009), the launch of refrigerated soup production (2013), the opening of a modern customer test kitchen (2013) and the start of single-serve beverage production (2013). Recently, the Paris team received the Industrial Appreciation Award from the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce, which recognized Campbell for 50 years of operation and dedication to the community.
“When Campbell was determining a location for its new plant decades ago, the company wanted access to a highly-skilled labor force, something the city of Paris offered,” said Ray Oldach, Campbell’s VP of Manufacturing. “That remains true today. Our people are some of the most knowledgeable and dedicated in the business. And they have big hearts, giving back hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars each year to the local community.”
Locally, the plant is well-known as an active member of the business community. From its support of local recreational sports and academic scholarships, to stocking local food banks and collecting school supplies for children in need, Campbell’s Paris team exemplifies the company’s longstanding commitment to corporate social responsibility. During its most recent United Way charitable campaign, the plant donated more than $136,000 to the United Way of Lamar County, its largest contribution ever.
“I started with the plant when I was just about 21 years old, seeing it transform over the years to what it is today,” said James McCarty, Sr. Project Engineer, who celebrated his own 50-year-career at the plant on November 30. “It’s been a real family affair for a number of employees here, including me, having several generations employed at the plant. From fathers and sons to aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews, we’ve all been a part of the plant’s history.”
About Campbell Soup Company
Campbell (NYSE: CPB) makes real food that matters for life’s moments, from high-quality soups and simple meals to snacks and healthy beverages. For generations, people have trusted Campbell to provide authentic, flavorful and readily available foods and beverages that connect them to each other, to warm memories and to what’s important today. Led by its iconic Campbell’s brand, the company’s portfolio includes Pepperidge Farm, Goldfish, Bolthouse Farms, V8, Swanson, Prego, Pace, Plum Organics, Arnott’s, Tim Tam, Royal Dansk and Kjeldsens. Founded in 1869, Campbell has a heritage of giving back and acting as a good steward of the planet’s natural resources. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. For more information, visit www.campbellsoupcompany.com or follow company news on Twitter via @CampbellSoupCo.